Choice Hotels International kicked off its 70th Annual Convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 5. Centered around the theme “Making More Possible,” company leaders highlighted how Choice is focused on helping its owners and operators. These initiatives range from an enhanced revenue engine and the relaunched Choice Privileges Program to the introduction of new technological solutions, such as Choice Hotels EasyBid, an AI-powered request-for-proposal platform. “This week is about one thing, and one thing alone—making more possible together,” said Patrick Pacious, president and chief executive officer. “We are working relentlessly to bring you three things. We are going to make more top-line revenue possible for you, make more personal support possible for you—because that’s really what makes Choice Hotels special—and make more performance possible for you by harnessing the incredible power of artificial intelligence to help you run a more profitable business.”
Before sharing updates on Choice’s latest innovations, Pacious highlighted the company’s recent momentum and pointed to major demand drivers, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as reasons for optimism. With RevPAR trending up, Pacious shared his expectation to see positive RevPAR growth throughout the rest of the year, making it the perfect time to invest, both in new development and existing hotels. This environment follows a 2025 in which Choice recorded significant growth; the company awarded 247 U.S. franchise agreements in 2025, its highest figure in over a decade, with the extended stay, midscale, and economy segments showing sustained demand. Combined with the positive momentum seen in the first quarter and major tourism events—like America250—on the horizon, Pacious emphasized that Choice is poised to capitalize on what promises to be a year of opportunity.
Driving Revenue
To do so, the company has prioritized setting their owners and operators up for success with a reimagined revenue engine. Pacious noted that today’s guests focus on affordability and value, making it crucial for hotels to deliver more at each brand’s respective price point. The updated Choice Privileges program continues to drive repeat business and overall performance by rewarding guests with special experiences, such as exclusive seats at college football games. With new solutions—like EasyBid, which enables owners to capture more group business, and Choice Hotels Business Direct, which will help businesses book directly on Choice’s website—the company is giving owners and operators tools to maximize their performance and capture more demand. More solutions, such as RAISE, an AI‑powered rate management tool that will simplify pricing and help owners make more money, are on the horizon as well.
Leveraging AI
The rise of AI was a key focus of the opening session, as Pacious underlined how Choice is using it to help owners maximize performance and drive value for their business. While the company has been utilizing AI for a decade, it continues to evolve its offerings as the technology itself presents new opportunities. “Today, we’re using its incredible power across the enterprise to drive value for your business,